Members receive access to a range of exclusive benefits such as events at the UN and across the United States, as well as opportunities to advocate, host Model UN conferences, and connect young professionals to UN experts.

Every October, United Nations Association chapters around the United States engage their communities by hosting events to celebrate the founding of the United Nations and elevate awareness of global issues. This year, our network of campus and community chapters have banned together to host a record 160 UN Day events!

On Wednesday, August 10, 2016, the United Nations Association, in partnership with the Annenberg Foundation, the International Rescue Committee and Yoobi, hosted a back-to-school event welcoming refugee families to the Los Angeles community.

July 21, 2016, WASHINGTON D.C. -- The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and the U.S. Department of State today named Nicol Perez the next U.S. Youth Observer to the United Nations. As Youth Observer, Perez will be the fifth American to represent a youth voice at the United Nations General Assembly and other UN events throughout the next year. She was selected from more than 350 applicants to the program. She will engage with other youth observers representing nations from around the world and report on her experiences over the year.

New York (May 2, 2016) – Beginning today, The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and the U.S. Department of State will accept applications for the position of U.S. Youth Observer to the United Nations for the 2016-2017 term. One U.S. citizen between ages 18 to 25 will be selected to serve in the role of correspondent between the United Nations and American youth, witnessing the UN in action, attending high-profile UN events throughout the year, and reporting his or her experiences to U.S. officials, peers, and global audiences.

New York (November 3, 2015) – In recognition of the role individuals, organizations, and corporations play in supporting the work of the United Nations to advance global peace and prosperity, the United Nations Foundation and the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) honored recipients of the 2015 Global Leadership Awards at the annual Global Leadership Dinner in New York City Tuesday night.

President Obama has been urged to 'Take The Lead' on Syria by a global coalition of more than 30 CEOs and leaders of key humanitarian, human rights and faith based organizations, who are demanding that he do more to tackle the root causes of the crisis.

September 3, 2015, WASHINGTON D.C. -- The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and the U.S. Department of State today named Donya Nasser the next U.S. Youth Observer to the United Nations. As Youth Observer, Nasser will be the fourth American to represent a youth voice at the United Nations General Assembly and other UN events throughout the next year. She was selected from more than 600 applicants to the program. She will engage with other youth observers representing nations from around the world and report on her experiences over the year.

New York (July 15, 2015) – The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and the U.S. Department of State are now accepting applications for the U.S. Youth Observer to the UN for the 2015-2016 term. The program gives one U.S. citizen age 18 to 25 the opportunity to: see the United Nations in action during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York; attend high-profile UN events throughout the year; and report his or her experiences to U.S. officials, peers, and the world.

New York (July 15, 2015) – The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) and the U.S. Department of State are now accepting applications for the U.S. Youth Observer to the UN for the 2015-2016 term. The program gives one U.S. citizen age 18 to 25 the opportunity to: see the United Nations in action during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York; attend high-profile UN events throughout the year; and report his or her experiences to U.S. officials, peers, and the world.

NEW YORK (May 14, 2015) – Today, 1,600 high school students from around the world have joined together for the United Nations Association of the USA’s (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms International Model UN Conference. The opening ceremonies, with a keynote by UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, are being held in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations.

Twenty years after the Beijing Platform for Action, the world has reduced the number of primary school age children that are out-of-school from 100 million to 58 million and decreased the percentage of girls that are out-of-school by 10%.[1],[2] That’s great progress, but back in 1995 the writers of the platform aimed to completely close the gender gap by 2005 and to provide universal primary education in every country before the year 2015.[3] Although these may have been lofty goals, an important question we should still ask is “where did we fall short?”

The United Nations has been influential in shaping the current global policy framework on women’s empowerment and gender equality. The last of these significant milestones took place twenty years ago. In 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action crowned the series of 4 “World Conferences on Women” that took place across four continents in the two decades prior.

Sheryl Samberg argued that women need to “sit at the table” where decisions are made. At the 59th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59), many women sat at the table. In fact, mostly women sat at the table. At some events, only women sat at the table. Most of the officials, representatives of nongovernmental organization, panel speakers and participants were women. Where were the men? Where were the intersex people?

Talking to fellow young women is easy. We have lived through similar experiences, we share common cultural references. There is a sense of camaraderie that arises immediately when you meet a young woman at a place like CSW, when you know that a shared passion for gender equality and women’s rights brought you to this common place at this common time. After two weeks at CSW, I have met wonderful young women that I will stay in touch with. We will continue to share experiences and talk about our common passion, and discuss the challenges we face as young women in today’s world.

The 21st century has been hailed as the century of women. Yet a recent Google search shows just how much prejudice and discrimination towards women and gender equality persist. Women still bear the brunt of poverty, war, disease, and famine. Women and girls are done with the rhetoric. They want meaningful action and implementation now.

Throughout her different engagements during CSW 59, Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has repeated time and time again: AGENCY MATTERS. In the fight for gender equality and women’s rights, one person can make a difference in bringing change to their school, their community, their cities, and their countries. It is for this reason that the gender equality agenda focuses on the need to create the necessary spaces and conditions for women to become political leaders, and while there have been many victories since the Beijing Declaration in 1995, the challenges to being a woman in a political leadership position remain such that the gap is far from being breached.

NEW YORK (March 26, 2015) – Today, 1,600 middle school students from around the world will join together at UN Headquarters for the United Nations Association of the USA’s (UNA-USA) Global Classrooms® International Middle School Model UN Conference. This three-day conference is the only international Model UN conference designed specifically for students in grades 5-8, and it is the largest middle school Model UN in the world.

From March 9-20, 2015, 1,100 organizations and nearly 9,000 individuals from across the globe will have descended upon the United Nations Headquarters in New York City for the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). During this time, 188 UN side events and hundreds of parallel events will be hosted in and near the UN to discuss the past, present, and future implementation and challenges of achieving gender equality and women's empowerment around the world.